Table game



E. W. BURCH Nov. 20, 1962 TABLE GAME Filed June 17, 1960 INVENTOR. Ezra M BVRQV Jrrazmrr;

FIE-4 ilnited States The present invention relates to improved game apparatus adapted for developing the responses of each player by providing a game in which a great variety of quickly developing and different play situations are provided.

A game board constructed according to this invention has a central and raised apex portion joined to an outer and upstanding peripheral wall by a plurality of downwardly-extending and'incline'd surfaces forming a separate valley leading to each player position. .A Ping-pong ball is placed on the apex portion and then blown off and subsequently battedbetween the various player positions as randomly determined by its rolling engagement with the various inclined surfaces. Each player position is provided with a net for catching the ball and in front of each is disposed a pivotably mounted paddle which is operated by the player for keeping the ball from entering the net.

These and other more detailed and specific objects will be disclosed in the course of the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention as mounted upon a usual card table.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the FIG. 1 embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional View taken along the line 33 in the direction of the arrows of FIG. 2 and showing the relationship of the inclined surfaces associated with one player position.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a player position as used in the FIG. 1 embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the paddle and handle used in the FIG. 4 illustrated player position.

With more particular reference now to the appended drawings like numerals denote like parts and structural features in the various views.

The game board is preferably square and adapted to sit upon a card table with each corner thereof comprising the respective player positions A, B, C and D, which are symmetrically disposed with respect to the central and raised apex portion 12. As shown the portion 12 is a horizontal plane formed as a square, it being understood however, that most geometric configurations will be suitable.

A plurality of planar inclined surfaces 14 downwardly extend in contiguous relation from the portion 12 to the upstanding and outer peripheral wall 16. The planar surfaces are inclined such that a valley line 18 downwardly extends from each corner of the portion 12 to the respective player positions. A ridge line 20 is formed between some of the surfaces 14 and downwardly extends from the mid-point of the respective sides of the portion 12 to the mid-point of each adjacent side of the wall 16, as at 20L, slightly above the adjacent player positions A and B and as clearly seen in FIG. 1. As a result of the described configuration each surface 14 is generally triangularly shaped having its highest area formed in the angle portion 14U which is immediately adjacent to portion 12. The lowest area of each surface is in the angle portion 14F immediately adjacent the respective player positions. Each surface 14 has the third angle, as at 14C, adjacent the mid-point 20L and in the preferred symmetrically constructed embodiment is a right angle.

3,054,9'38 Patented Nov. 20, 1952 The above described game board configuration may be modified to an asymmetric construction, generally circular shape as by having an annular wall, rather than the illustrated wall 16, or may be rectangular or polygonal in shape. In any event the player positions are spaced along the peripheral wall, as shown. The ridge lines 2-0 do not necessarily have to extend centrally between the two adjacent player positions, rather they may extend angularly toward one and away from the other adjacent position. For example, in FIG. 2 the ridge line 20 may be angled toward the position D and away from the position A. Further, the various inclined surfaces 14 need not be planar, but can be convex or concave or could include undulations. The important feature is the separation-of adjacent player positions by a downwardly inclined ridge line extending from portion 12 towall Each of the player positions has a downwardly extending and rectangularly shaped paddle 24 fixedly mounted on the horizontal rod or handle 26 which is pivotably disposed through the mounts 28 spaced apart transversely to the valley lines 18. The mounts 28 may consist of a metal ring integrally formed on a threaded shank which is screwed into the wall 16 as shown.

A depending notch 22 is formed in the wall 16 at each of the respective player positions and immediately beneath the paddle assembly 24, 26 for providing a ball passageway from the surfaces 14 to each of the nets 3-5 in the respective player positions. Each net 30 is supported by a wire hoop 32 having the two hooks 32A adapted to fit snugly over the wall 16 at each corner of the board. It should be apparent that each of the nets 30, 32 and the paddle assemblies 24, 26 may be easily removed from the illustrated positions to facilitate storage of the game.

A game is played with the board 10 suitably supported by a card table 34 and with the paddles and nets in the illustrated positions. A usual Ping-pong ball 36 is first placed centrally on the portion 12. Each of the players then assume positions at the respective table corners and grasp the respective handles 26 as shown for position A in FIG. 2. Then one or more of the players may lean over the board and blow the ball 36 off the apex portion 12 from whence it rolls toward one of the player positions. For purposes of discussion, assume that the player at position C was successful in moving the ball 36 toward the position A. The player at A upon seeing the ball rolling down the valley line 18', operates his paddle such that it will engage the ball when it is directly beneath the rod or handle 26 from whence it will travel upwardly along the line 18' as shown in PEG. 2, by the arrow. Upon reaching the apex portion 12, the ball 36 will bounce and thus roll onto one of the inclined surfaces 14 from whence its course of travel is problematical. When so traveling the ball 36 approaching a player position will be quite erratic requiring each player to respond quickly for rotating the paddle 24, 26 to move the ball away from his player position. Note that when the ball 36 strikes a paddle 24 at other than a right angle it will be deflected accordingly and may travel over one or more of the ridge lines 20 before being again struck by a paddle. From this, it can be seen the described game board will provide lively and exciting play.

Each of the player positions is directly associated with only two of the inclined surfaces, that is, the two surfaces which form the valley line 18 leading to the respective position, such as the facing inclined surfaces 38 and 4% form the valley line 13 leading to position A. Note that each surface 38 and 40' are formed and disposed in the board 10 such that irrespective of which point in the surface the ball 36 is engaging, there will be a tendency r 5 for the weight of the ball to urge it to roll toward the position A. Such an area has been defined as a player area A, 38, 40' and the board it) may be considered as being constituted by joining a plurality of such areas together. i

It is understood that suitable modifications may be made in the structure as disclosed, provided such modifications come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Having now therefore fully illustrated and described my invention, what I claim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A game apparatus for use with a game piece comprising in combination, a game board, said game board having a raised portion at the center thereof and being inclined downwardly toward the periphery thereof, a guard means secured to the periphery of said board and extending upwardly therefrom for preventing said game piece from falling, off of said board, said game board including a plurality of adjacent pairs of planar relatively inclined surfaces, each such pair including a right-hand planar surface inclined downwardly toward the left and a left-hand planar surface inclined downwardly toward the right, each of said pairs of surfaces defining a trough having a V-shaped cross sectional configuration whereby movement of the game piece across the intersection be- 2 tween each pair of such planar surfaces causes an erratic movement of the game piece as said game piece moves toward the periphery of said game board, a game piece batting member pivotally mounted upon said apparatus adjacent the periphery thereof and adjacent each pair of surfaces, each pair of planar surfaces defining a player station, and a game piece-receiving pocket at each player station outwardly of the batting member.

2. Game apparatus as in claim 1 wherein each game piece batting member comprises a downwardly depending paddle pivotally mounted at the upper end upon said guard for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis and slidably mounted for transverse movements in a horizontal path.

References Cited in the file of this patent.

769,771 France June 11, 

